Machine for reeling silk



(No Model?) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

0. H. KNAPP.

MAGHINEFPOR REELING SILK.

No. 312,865. Patented Feb. 24, 1885.,

WITNESSES INVENTOR ca h mww (No Model.) .2 sheets-sheet 2.

0. H. KNAP P.

MACHINE FOR REELING SILK.

N0 312,865. Patented Feb. 24, 1885.

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CHARLES H. KNAPP, OF PATERSON, NEXV JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR REELING SiLK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,865, dated February 2 1-, 1885.

Application filed March 28, 188-1. (No model.)

I 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KNAPP, of Paterson, Passaic county, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Reeling Silk and other Threads, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is intended more particularly for reeling silk, a great number of separate threads being wound side by side on a single revolving frame or reel; but it may be applied with advantage in the reeling of other yarns, and in cases where a less number of threads are reeled at once.

The improvements consist of means for driving the reel and for stopping it with just sufficient promptness whena thread breaks from any cause. The importance of automatically stopping under such conditions has long been realized. Many devices have been employed to attain the end.

It is important that the stoppage should occur promptly on the breaking of any thread, in order that the mischief may be repaired, and the number of yarns in each skein may be kept'approximately uniform; but it is important that the stopping be not so sudden as to slacken the unbroken threads and induce kinking and tangling. I effect the driving by friction-gears. These allow a gentle motion in starting, and favor the means I employ for effecting the stopping. The momentum of the reel is made available to aid in lifting the pulley,which is fast on the reel,out of contact with the friction-pulley, which imparts the driving force. The momentum also aids to apply a brake; but the brake acts on a wheel or boss of so small diameter that the motion is arrested gently.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of my machine, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation, showing aportion only of the framing and mechanism. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail, showing the meeting surfaces of the frictional drivingwheels, hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a partial end view, showing the condition of the parts of the machine while the reel is operating successfully. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the strap. (Shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4:.) Fig. 4. is acorresponding view,showing the condition which results when athread is broken and the reel is gradually stopped. Fig. 4." is a plan view of a portion of the frame, the lever for detecting the breaking of a thread, and the vibrating lever. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the important parts on a much larger scale detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

Ais a fixed framework, ofcast-iron or other suitable material.

B is a reel, the same consisting of a long open-work frame mounted on a shaft, 6, and on the overhanging end of which shaft is fixed a pulley, B, having a V-sectioned periphery covered with leather or other suitable frictional material, as shown in Fig. 2.

A is a fixed stud, on which runs loosely a pulley, C, turned by a belt driven by a steamengine or other suitable power. (Not shown.) Alongside of pulley G and fast thereto is a pulley, G, with a \I-shaped groove around its periphery adapted to receive the \l-shaped periphery of the pulley B and impart a rotary motion thereto by friction in an obvious manner. The shaft 1) of the reel rests in opentopped bc-aringsin the framing A,which allow the reel to be easily lifted out and replaced. These bearings also allow the reel to be lifted a little to disengage the frictional contact of pulleys B C.

Gis a lever turning on a fixed pin, (1, subject to the pulling force of a coiled spring, H, one end of the spring being connected to the lever G and the other end of the spring being attached to the framing, as shown in Fig. 1. Certain portions of this lever G will be designated by additional marks, as G, G &c.

G is a surface on the said lever G, arranged to be presented under a collar, 1), on the shaft 1), (see Figs. 3, 4-,) so as to lift the shaft when the lever is turned in the right position. I will term this a lifting-surface.

G is a brake adapted to press against the collar 6 on the shaft and create a considerable friction.

G is an arm carryinga handle, G", by which the lever may be turned at will.

G is a shelf or stop at the lower end of the lever, and G is a short arm, reaching upward from the shelf G and slightly-curved, so as to form a shallow pocket, 5/, which performs animportant function.

D -D are bobbins containing'silk which is to be reeled. They are arranged in two lines, extending the whole length of the machine, so as to deliver their respective threads at the proper distances apart to be wound on a reel.

E E- and F F are rollers extending lengthwise of the machine. The several threads m, brought up from the bobbins D, run over the rollers E, and under the rollers F. From the latter the several threads run upward through guides Afland are wound upon the reel B, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

I employ for each thread a light lever, I, certain portions of which will be designated by additional marks, as I P. Each thread at in its upward stretch from the rollers F to its proper guide A, runs through a notch formed in the longest and heaviest end 1 This entire lever is formed of a single piece ofwire bent in a number of coils to form a boss, I, at the center. So long as the thread is unbroken, its gentle friction in the bight or notch of the end 1 supports that end against the force of gravity, and the reeling proceeds, but when, through a breakage or other cause, the thread m ceases to support the heavy end 1 that end falls and lifts the light end I of the same lever. Its light end is formed with two rightangle bends, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The several levers I are mounted loosely on a slender longitudinal rod or stout wire, A which forms a pivot or center therefor. Close above the rod A is a stout rectangular bar, A. The arrangement is such that when any thread breaks, and its corresponding lever I tumbles, its bend 1 comes over thebar A, so that thelatter isavailable to support the slender wire I against any force pressing it down.

The shaft 2) is provided with an eccentric, B, which is embraced by an eccentric-strap. J, made capable of being conveniently opened and closed to allow the removal of the reel and its replacement at short intervals.

The strap J is shown in detail in Fig. 3*, in which figure q designates the pivot of the hinged portion of the strap, and q the springcatch for locking the free end. When this eccentric-strap is closed, each revolution of the reel compels a vertical reciprocation of the rod J, connected to which is an extension from the eccentric-strap J, which, as the eccentric revolves, reciprocates vertically through a guide, A A pin,j, fixed in the side of this rod J, forms a movable center for a lever, K, parts of which will bedesignated by additional marks, as K. One end, K, of the said lever, that presented to the right in the figures, may for the present he considered as fixed. The other end, K carries a horizontal pin, which is received in the forked arm L, which is fixed on the rocking shaft Z, extend ing longitudinally of the machine. On the opposite side of the shaft Z are arms L, which carry a longitudinal strip of wood or other rigid mate rial,L. So long as the end K of the lever K is held stationary in the pocket 9 of the lever G, the vertical reciprocations of the rod J cause a rocking of the shaft Z, and a weak and rapid rising and sinking motion of the strip L; It descends at each reciprocation almost into contact with the bar A. This rapid rising and sinking motion of the bar or strip L continues so long as all the threads are unbroken, and the reeling is proceeding prop erly; but the moment one of the threads or is broken and its lever I tumbles so as to bring its light arm I above the bar, as shown in Fig. 4, the next descent of the strip L is arrested. The arresting of this part induces a change of conditions which stops the reel.

This is as follows:

The end K of the lever K retains its fixed condition only weakly. Itis pivoted by means simply of a lateral projection or hook, which rests in the shallow pocket 9 in the lever G. So soon as the reciprocating motion of the strip L is arrested, the next rise of the eccentric-rod J, as it cannot depress the strip L, lifts the end K and slips it out of the shallow pocket 9, throwing it into the position shown in Fig. 4. This leaves the lever G free, and it instantly yields to the force of the spring H, and turning alittle on its fixed pivot a thrusts its lifting-surface G below the shaft 12 or collar thereon, and lifts it. The rotary motion of the reel in the direction of the travel of the silk, and indicated by the arrow, aids to complete this turning motion of the lever G, and consequently to complete the lifting of the reel 13 until its soft-coated wheel B is entirely out of contact with the driving-wheel C. To increase this effect, I fix a collar, 1), on the shaft 12, thus increasing its diameter at that point. (See Fig. 4.) So soon as the lever G has been moved by the force of the spring H, so as to present the lifting-surface G in contact with this collar, the collar engaging frictionallywith such surface makes the momentum of the reel available to pull the surface G along. plete movement of the lever G brings the brake G into contact with the collar 12.

just sufficient rapidity.

The bar A is of sufficient thickness to afford a rigid and reliable abutment. The wire from which the several levers I are formed may be slender, but the bends in the end I being accurately formed by machinery or otherwise, enables it, when elevated, to assume a position which presents the bend fairly over the bar A with the short end projecting directly upward. This receives the impact of the strip L on its next descent very favorably for its effective resistance by the aid of the slight stiffness of the wire and the square rest which it obtains upon the upper surface of the bar A. A slender wire will bear a considerable force.

The com The friction thus induced brings the reel to rest with IOO One operator may attend two or more reels. So soon as practicable after the reel has stopped, the attendant picks out the broken thread, and after joining the ends lifts the 5 handle G and allows the shaft b to sink again into the bottom of its notch in the frame. This brings the periphery of its Wheel B into forcible contact with the continuously-revolving driving-wheel O, and the reel again commences its motion. The'reciprocations of the rod J being communicated to the lever K, engage its end K again in the shallow pocket 9 and the strip L, and the reel continues to run as before so long as the strip L is allowed 5 to make its rapid reciprocations freely. The moment any lever I tumbles, the strip L is again arrested and the stopping operation is repeated, and so 011 indefinitely.

To economize time the reel is run at a high velocity, giving a rapid rotatory motion to the bobbins D, which is sufficient to produce several revolutions by their momentum after the tension on the threads at is stopped.

It is important that the brake G shall ex- :2 ert so gentle a force that the reel is allowed to make one or more complete turns in the act of stopping. It is important that the brake be conditioned so as to effect the stopping gradually.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. Parts of the invention may be used without the Whole.

I claim as my invention- 1. The reel B, and its frictional driving means, the lever G G G, having pocket 9, and the spring H, in combination with the lever K, having arm K, adapted to engage in the pocket and devices, substantially as described, for vibrating lever L, for detecting the breakage of a thread, and for arresting the vibrations of lever L opposite the arm K, and thereby disengaging said arm from the pocket 9 when such breakage occurs, to stop the reel, all arranged for joint operation, as set forth.

2. The lever K and arm L, in combination with the lever Z, arms L strip L, tumbling levers I I, strap J, rod J, eccentric B the lever G, having lifting-surface G, the spring H, reel B, and means for frictionally rotating it, all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Paterson, New Jersey, this 17th day of March, 1884, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

O. H. KNAPP.

\Vitnesses:

FRANCIS Soorr, JOHN S. COOKE. 

